Contrary to popular opinion, there are right and wrong ways to blog. Livejournal, for instance, is the perfect platform to unleash all your tween angst. For political debates in the forums? Not so much. It just looks silly to post a lengthy discussion of the McCain camp's smear tactics next to a mood:aggravated icon.

So woe to the venerable institutions that can't tell the difference between appropriate and inappropriate blogging subjects, and who believe Twittering — the "microblogging" service much beloved by everyone at the conventions this year — works for every news-worthy event.

Most recent example? The Rocky Mountain News team that Twittered a little boy's funeral after the 3-year old was gunned down in an ice-cream store. (Ex: "Rabbi recites the main hebrew prayer of death / people again are sobbing. rabbi again asks god to give marten everlasting life/family members shovel earth into grave.") The still-online Twitter feed is here.

File under: Not okay. If you can't tell the difference on what is the appropriate amount of deference a subject should be given online in real-time, here is a handy guide on acceptable Twittering usage:

• Twitter Appropriate: Slate's coverage of the Olympics

• Twitter Inappropriate: MSNBC guests spouting their hatred of Tim Russert

• Twitter Appropriate: HuffPo's play-by-play of the DNC

• Twitter Inappropriate: A recap of 9/11.